[You are like Judas, yet unlike that elf;
Once more like Judas be, and hang yourself.]
The common phrase Give the Devil his due, was turned very wittily by a member of the bar in North Carolina, some years ago, on three of his legal brethren. During the trial of a case, Hillman, Dews, and Swain (all distinguished lawyers, and the last-named President of the State University) handed James Dodge, the Clerk of the Supreme Court, the following epitaph:—
Here lies James Dodge, who dodged all good,
And never dodged an evil:
And, after dodging all he could,
He could not dodge the Devil!
Mr. Dodge sent back to the gentlemen the annexed impromptu reply, which may be considered equal to any thing ever expressed in the best days of Queens Anne or Bess:—
Here lies a Hillman and a Swain;
Their lot let no man choose: